Description
In honor of our Prison Ministry’s 40th Anniversary, Father Jim wrote A Place Not of My Choosing: Jim Smith & the Spiritus Christi Prison Outreach. This latest book traces Jim’s early call to ministry at Corpus Christi Church when Sister Margie Henninger asked him to serve the homeless. He fed and sheltered them in the church basement.
In 1980, he was asked to help form Rogers House, a residence for male ex-offenders. Later, he was invited to live there as staff resident. Soon he became the director at age 24. Never one for the spotlight, Jim did not seek any of these roles. When asked, he responded with a yes, no matter how steep the challenge. He believed he was answering God’s call, and that’s what he wanted most in his life.
The book covers the Prison Outreach’s expansion to five state prisons and the Monroe County Jail. It tells the history of Jennifer House and Nielsen House, as well as the development of the latest supportive housing initiatives around the city. Included in the book are stories of dozens of people incarcerated or formerly incarcerated. Our volunteers, too, share their stories of how they got involved in the Prison Outreach.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.